The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

breast pierced through, he fell down from his vehicle
on the earth. Upon the slaughter of Dhrishtadyumna’s
son, the (Pandava) troops began to tremble. Then
the mighty Chekitana fell upon Drona, Piercing Drona
with ten arrows, he once more pierced him with a shaft
in the centre of his chest. And he pierced Drona’s
charioteer with four arrows and his four steeds also
with four. The Preceptor then pierced the right
arm of Chekitana with sixteen arrows, and his standard
with sixteen, and his charioteer with seven.
Upon the charioteer being slain, Chekitana’s
steeds fled away, dragging the car after them.
Beholding the steeds of Chekitana pierced with the
arrows of Bharadwaja’s son, and his car also
deprived of driver, the Panchalas and the Pandavas
were filled with great fear. Drona then, O sire,
routing on all sides the Panchalas and the Srinjayas
united together in battle looked exceedingly resplendent.
The venerable Drona, full five and eighty years of
age, dark in hue and with white locks descending to
his cars, careered in battle like a youth of sixteen.
Indeed, O king, enemies regarded the foe-slaying Drona,
as he fearlessly careered in battle, to be none else
than Indra himself armed with the thunder. Then,
O monarch, the mighty-armed Drupada of great intelligence
said, ’This one (Drona) is slaying the Kshatriyas
like a hungry tiger slaying smaller animals.
The sinful Duryodhana of wicked soul will assuredly
obtain the most miserable regions (in the next world).
It is through his covetousness that many foremost
of the Kshatriyas, slain in battle, lay prostrate
on the field, like mangled bulls, weltering in blood
and becoming the food of dogs and jackals.’
Saying these words, O monarch, Drupada, that master
of an Akshauhini of troops, placing the Parthas at
his head, rushed with speed towards Drona.’”

SECTION CXXV

“Sanjaya said, ’When the army of the Pandavas
was thus agitated on all sides, the Parthas and the
Panchalas and the Somakas, retreated to a great distance.
During the progress of that fierce battle, making the
hair stand on end, and that universal carnage like
to what happens, O Bharata, at that end of the Yuga,
when, indeed, Drona of great prowess was repeatedly
uttering leonine shouts, and when the Panchalas were
being weakened and the Pandavas slaughtered, king
Yudhishthira the Just, failing in that battle to find
any refuge in that distress, began, O king, to think
how the matter would end. Casting his eyes around
in expectation of seeing Savyasachin, Yudhishthira,
however, saw neither that son of Pritha nor Madhava.
Not seeing that tiger among men viz., the ape-bannered
Arjuna, and not hearing also the twang of Gandiva,
the monarch became filled with anxiety, not seeing
Satyaki also, that foremost of car-warriors among
the Vrishnis, king Yudhishthira the Just became equally
anxious. Indeed, not seeing those two foremost
of men, Yudhishthira knew no peace. The high-souled